Nightfrost's Choice

Chapter 2

Soft gray light filtered through the mouth of the Apprentice Den, shining onto Nightpaw's nest. The air around her was cool and light, with a sense that it had rained the whole night before. The feathers around Nightpaw's nest rustled as she sat up, looking around, her eyes dilating to adjust to the light.

Nightpaw looked around. All the other apprentices were gone, even Dewpaw.
Oh no! Did I sleep in?

Panic shot through Nightpaw and she scrambled up, but she noticed that Dewpaw's nest was still warm, and she relaxed. They must have left only a while ago.

Wrapping her tail around her paws, Nightpaw began to groom her ruffled fur, smoothing black tufts down with her tongue until her pelt was sleek and shiny. Stretching her paws, Nightpaw winced. Her muscles were still sore from yesterday, and all she wanted to do was sleep. More at ease, Nightpaw padded to the mouth of the den, where she saw Cedartail waiting for her.

"I let you sleep in, because I wanted you to get some rest after last night." He apologized. Nightpaw dipped her head respectfully to her mentor.

"Thanks." Picking out a plump shrew, Nightpaw took a bite and enjoyed the savory taste. "Where's Dewpaw?" Cedartail twitched his tail.

"She went with Swiftpaw and Sunfire to go hunting." He meowed, resting his tail on Nightpaw's shoulders. "But I want you to start your apprentice duties." Nightpaw bent her head to take another bite of the shrew.

"So, what are we doing? Collecting moss? Cleaning the nests? Ticks?" She was half joking about the ticks, but Cedartail shook his head.

"We're going moss collecting with Thrushpaw. I hope you don't mind." He added anxiously, inspecting Nightpaw with his blue eyes for her reaction. Nightpaw stifled a sigh, standing up as she gulped down the last few bites of the vole.

"No, it's ok." She managed. "I just want to be the best warrior ever, even if I have to collect moss."

Cedartail gave her a warm look.

"I knew Tigerstar made a good choice by giving you as my apprentice." He teased, then sprang to his paws just as Thrushpaw crossed the clearing with his mentor, Rockshade. 

The dark brown tom twitched his ears in acknowledgement at Cedartail.

"Are you excited?" Thrushpaw whispered to Nightpaw, who shrugged.

Why would I be excited about collecting moss?

"Just bored." She answered, and Thrushpaw seemed taken aback.

"What?- No, going to the Moss Cave is so cool! It's not boring! Last time I went there I nearly drowned." Thrushpaw meowed proudly, and Nightpaw froze.

"Drowned?"

Before Thrushpaw could answer, Cedartail nudged Nightpaw.

"We should get going, Nightpaw." He urged, padding to the entrance of camp, where Darkclaw and Mistycloud guarded camp.

As Nightpaw stepped out of camp, light seeped through her senses. 

The canopy of leaves above her on the huge trees turned the passing sunlight to a green glow, warming Nightpaw's fur as she padded on. The thick, heavy smell of rain that had fallen late last night filled her nose- petracore. The sky was nearly cloudless, and leaves and twigs crackled beneath her paws- sending birds flapping in alarm to safety, singing their annoying songs.

"So, what's the Moss Cave?" Nightpaw asked Cedartail as they walked.

"It's a small stone cave almost underground filled with water, and the presence of shade let's moss grow on the walls, on the ground, and it has the most moss in the entire territory, that's clean, at least." Her mentor explained. Nightpaw nodded just as they reached a large stream.